Press Releases
Maryland & Virginia Senators Request Answers About White House Proposal to Place Presidential Appointee in Charge of Federal Workforce Policy
In letter to Acting OMB Director, Senators express grave concern about proposed merge that would subject career civil servants to increased political interference U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), along with Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), today wrote to Acting Director Russell T. Vought to express grave concern over a new Trump Administration proposal that would, among other things, effectively end Congress' ability to provide advice and consent over the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2019
New Reports Raise Concern that Deutsche Bank Willfully Misled Van Hollen on Oversight of Relationship with Trump
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen raised serious concerns following the NY Times reporting that Deutsche Bank ignored warnings about suspicious activity from accounts tied to President Trump and Jared Kushner. In 2017, Senator Van Hollen wrote to Deutsche Bank with concerns about their relationship with the President, and they told the Senator, "The Bank recognizes the heightened sensitivity of managing relationships with clients who hold public office or perform public functions in the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $200,000 Rural Communities Opioid Response Grant to the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative David Trone and (All D-Md.) announced $200,000 in funding from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Grant to the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center, located in Cumberland, Maryland. "The opioid epidemic has plagued communities all across Maryland for far too long. This funding will help provide Western Maryland with the resources and flexibility needed to expand access to treatment for substance use disorders, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2019
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Introduce Green Bank Act of 2019
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) this week to introduce the Green Bank Act of 2019. This legislation - originally introduced in 2009 by then-Congressman Van Hollen - would create a national green bank to deploy public financing for regional, state, and municipal green banks. This federal financing would unleash large-scale, private investments in clean energy and … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Van Hollen, Democrats Applaud Vote to Reject Hedge Fund Takeover of Gannett
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of Senate Democrats in applauding news that Gannett shareholders voted to reject a hostile takeover by a hedge fund. The vote comes one day after the Senators penned a letter to Alden Global Capital LLC, urging the hedge fund to drop its bid. Alden Global Capital has a history of buying local papers only to then turn around and dismantle them by firing reporters and selling company assets. So while today's vote is good news for … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Van Hollen, Sanders, Markey, Merkley to Trump: “We are Deeply Concerned by Your Administration’s Growing Confrontation with Iran”
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to President Trump raising serious concerns about his Administration's growing confrontation with Iran and asking a serious of questions about how he plans to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat. The Senators wrote, "The blunt use of sanctions and military posturing following the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Van Hollen Cosponsors Legislation to Stop Arctic Drilling
The Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2019 prohibits reckless, high-risk drilling that will accelerate climate chaos and decimate Arctic ecosystems Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen cosponsored the Stop Arctic Drilling Act of 2019, legislation to prohibit irresponsible and unacceptable drilling that puts at risk the health of local ecosystems, communities, and the global climate. The bill would prevent any new or renewed leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil, … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More than $1.5 Million in Awards for Research at Maryland HBCUs
National Science Foundation invests in African-American Research Faculty and Students at Morgan State University and Bowie State University United States Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced the award of more than $1.5 million in federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research at two of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Morgan State University will receive close to $1.25 million for a project aimed at … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce over $12 Million for Western Maryland Airports
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $12,030,000 in federal funding for the Hagerstown Regional Airport and the Garrett County Airport through the Department of Transportation (DOT). The grants will be used to fund repairs and improvements to the airports' runways, including the construction of taxiway extensions. The Hagerstown Regional Airport will receive $5,400,000, and the Garrett County Airport will receive $6,630,000. "Maryland's regional airports … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Van Hollen Bipartisan Senators Introduce Resolution Honoring Richard Lugar’s Legacy, Pushing to Continue Global Non-Proliferation Efforts
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen along with a group of bipartisan Senators introduced a Senate resolution honoring the legacy of the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). The resolution recognizes Lugar's enormous contributions to nuclear non-proliferation, and pushes for the U.S. to continue its leadership in advancing global non-proliferation efforts, including by considering extending the New START Treaty that Senator Lugar championed from his post on the Senate Foreign Relations … Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Democrats Question USDA Plans to Relocate Offices Outside the National Capital Region
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with several of his Senate colleagues and House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue expressing concern regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposal to move the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) out of the National Capital Region. The current headquarters facility for NIFA is in General Services Administration (GSA) leased space in … Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Rubio Urge Banking Committee to Hold Mark Up of DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) calling for the immediate mark up of the DETER Act. The Senators' bipartisan legislation would send a clear and powerful message to Russia and any other foreign actors seeking to disrupt our elections: If you attack American candidates, campaigns, or voting infrastructure, you will … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Van Hollen, Clarke Urge FCC to Support Workforce Diversity, Collect Data on Broadcast Demographics
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Ajit Pai urging the FCC to reinstate practices to collect data on broadcast workforce diversity. Currently, the FCC is required by law to collect this information yet has failed to do so. They write, "Earlier this year, the Commission decided to review certain of its equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules for the broadcasting sector. … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Van Hollen, Burr Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Child Care Protection
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) have introduced the Child Care Protection Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a task force to assist states in the process of implementing background check requirements for child care workers. "As we work to make sure childcare is affordable for families in Maryland and across the country, we must have a better system that maximizes safety and provides parents peace of mind about who is watching their … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Brunei for Barbaric Laws
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the government of Brunei for recently imposing laws that include, among other troubling things, death by stoning for adultery and homosexual relations. Their resolution also calls for the repeal of these barbaric laws and visa bans for anyone involved in their implementation. "I am … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings Announce Legislation to Promote Educational Opportunities for Americans with Criminal Records
Bills Would Reform Prison Education, Encourage Colleges and Universities To Keep Criminal Records Out Of Admissions Process This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) in the Senate and U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) in the House to announce the introduction of two bills to expand access to education for Americans with criminals records, whether they are in prison or applying to go back to school with a criminal … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Confirmation of Janet Dhillon
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the nomination of Janet Dhillon to chair the EEOC: "I opposed the confirmation of Janet Dhillon to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC is an independent federal agency with an absolutely vital mission: Enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. But Ms. Dhillon has spent her career protecting corporations that are accused of discrimination by their workers. As a … Continue Reading
May 08, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Demand Legal Justification for Expanded Militarization of the Southern Border
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of Senators in writing to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan raising concerns over the expanding mission of active duty servicemembers deployed to the southern border. The senators demanded a legal justification for increased military activities at the border, including a loosening of restrictions on contact between servicemembers and migrants. According to recent reports, the Department of Defense is preparing to ease rules that … Continue Reading
May 06, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Meet with Luke, Maryland Mayor Ed Clemons and Allegany County Administrator Brandon Butler
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) met with Luke, Maryland Mayor Ed Clemons, Jr. and Allegany County Administrator Brandon Butler to speak about the closing of the Verso Paper Mill. "We are deeply disappointed in the decision to close the Verso paper mill and concerned about the effects this closure will have on its employees, the Town of Luke, and the regional economy. We appreciated the chance to sit down with Mayor Ed Clemons, Jr. … Continue Reading
May 03, 2019
Van Hollen, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Support Foreign Service Families
Introduction of Legislation Corresponds with Foreign Service Day - May 3rd U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), cofounders of the bipartisan Foreign Service Caucus, have introduced the Foreign Service Families Act. This legislation will help ensure that the State Department is able to attract and retain a world-class diplomatic corps by providing expanded career options and services to eligible family members. For many of these family members, the process of … Continue Reading
